Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SS)

Udupi, Feb 8: Stepfather of a minor girl was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Udupi district additional and sessions court for sexual assault under the provisions of POCSO Act.

Ganesh Nayak (49), the convict was the stepfather to an aggrieved minor girl following his second marriage to her mother. The convict was living with his wife and the minor girl together. In October 2021, when the girl's mother had gone out of town, the convict had served juice to the girl which was mixed with a dose of medicine and then forced himself on her sexually.

When the girl's mother returned three months later, she found her daughter to be pregnant. When she confronted the girl, the mother came to know that Nayak was responsible for it. The girl's mother filed a complaint with the Kundapura police on January 22, 2022 and a case was registered. Investigations were conducted by circle inspector Gopikrishna K R who also submitted a chargesheet against the accused to the court.

The court heard 10 witnesses out of 33. Based on the evidence provided by the aggrieved minor girl, circumstantial evidence and the DNA report, Justice Srinivasa Suvarna delivered the judgment and declared Nayak as a convict.

Ganesh Nayak was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 10,000 failing which an additional year of imprisonment has been announced. The convict has been fined Rs 10,000 for the sexual act. Out of Rs 20,000 levied as penalty, the court ordered payment of Rs 15,000 to the girl and Rs 5,000 to the government. The court also ordered the government to pay a compensation of Rs 3 lac to the girl.

Y T Raghavendra argued in favour of the government.